We were very excited this morning to find that the joiners had been this week and the first structure of our building work has taken place. The curved area will provide seating, the far corner will be the kitchenette an the opposite side to the kitchenette will house the slope providing disabled access to the toilets in the tower base. You can see the location of these in the photos as well.
As part of the building works at the west end of church, a number of items have had to be removed to provide the space for the ramp, kitchenette and new ‘monastic style’ seating. Some of the old storage units are gone (which we have now a much better way of storing service sheets), 12 pews (sold to congregation members) and of course the old pipe organ.
Since installing the new digital Viscount Physis organ in 2010, our old pipe organ console has been in the tower base and the pipes still in situ on the first floor of the tower. Not wanting to simply throw out what could be a good organ for the right church, we endeavoured to find a new loving home for it.
Luckily the answer to this came – from Germany! A church needed a new organ and so in September two people (Oliver and Sonia)and a van came over to spend time meticulously dismantling the organ for transit over to Germany.
On Monday, the builders arrived. We were excited that the Mayor was able to join us to cut the first sod in our project to create toilets and a kitchenette at the back of church; creating a community space for the area.
As part of the project, 12 pews were sold to the congregation and these were on the agenda to be removed for the first day.
We will update you here throughout the project with photos and information about the project through to its completion in February 2015.
An Augustian ‘Black Canon’ – who originated the church at Woodkirk
This year on August 16th we are proud that we will be re-creating the Mystery Plays – some of which were written by our very own Black Canons, here at St Mary’s.
As part of the Medieval Festival organised by the JORVIK group, creators of the JORVIK Viking Festival, The Yorkshire Medieval Festival brings with it a wide range of events and activities across Yorkshire for all the family to enjoy.
You could try your hand as an eagle-eyed archer, discover mighty birds of prey with falconry demonstrations, see brave knights battle in thrilling re-enactments and spend the day in some of Yorkshire’s most idyllic settings, as Churches across the region engage with this fantastic event. For more information about events across Yorkshire, visit their web site here: http://www.yorkshire-medieval-festival.com/
We are putting on 2 plays at 12pm and 2pm on the Saturday. The play will be re-enacted by the St Andrew’s Bruntcliffe drama group, these will be performed outside (or inside if it rains) our church on the day – so don’t miss it. The play being performed is called ‘Noah’s Flood’ and will involve 8 or 9 cast members for this 15 minute production, repeated at 2pm. Our warmest thanks go to Mary who is organising the drama group.
We are also arranging other things for the day, including displaying the Medieval history owned by Peter Aldred as well as refreshments and other activities which we will advertise on the web site.
The church will be open from 10am to 3pm for visitors to come along and experience our Medieval history – see the terraces built by the Monks, and the stained glass Monk’s window. Learn about the food of the time and also the life of the monks.
A huge thank you to all those who turned up this morning to give the church a massive clean so our services tomorrow can take place.
The damaged cornicing has been mended this week and to say it caused quite a bit of dust is an understatement! Thankfully half the church is back into a clean state so we can enjoy the All-Age worship at 10.30 and Holy Communion at 12.00pm.
If you remember, earlier in the year the oldest window we have in church, the mediaeval monk’s window was removed, cleaned, repaired, and replaced.
We usually notice some colour, but look at it shining on the vestry door this morning! Beautiful!!
